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From April 15, CMA CGM Group will stop loading plastic waste on board its vessels as it wants to give customers ample buffer before its ban on plastics takes effect on June 1
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The ocean liner company warned that it will blacklist customers who violate the no-plastic waste policy
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Its larger rival Maersk is pushing for recycling of old vessels and containers to accelerate a transition to net zero steel and avoid carbon emission generated by steel production
French shipping giant CMA CGM Group will stop loading plastic waste on board it vessels starting April 15 ahead of its decision to ban this type of cargo effective June 1 as part of its commitment to more sustainable trade, the company announced on April 12.
Its bigger rival, AP Moeller-Maersk, has joined Climate Group SteelZero, a global initiative to accelerate the transition to a net zero steel industry, as it seeks to push recycling of old vessels and containers to achieve zero carbon emission.
CMA CGM warned that it will blacklist customers who make false declarations to conceal plastic waste.
The ocean liner operator said plastic waste is identified under HS code category 3915 of the Harmonized System of global product classification commonly used in exporting goods. It is used by customs authorities around the world to identify products when assessing duties and taxes.
CMA CGM said in a press release that the ban is a landmark decision in the shipping industry that will help protect the oceans and biodiversity and that it is enforcing the policy this early to give customer sufficient anticipation buffer.
“To ensure effectiveness of this measure, we have set up a ban on HS code for commodities concerned in our booking system. Please note that false declarations on the nature of the goods will lead to a blacklisting of the incriminated entity,” the company said.
CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest container lines, said it carried the equivalent of about 50,000 standard containers per year of plastic waste, which is a focus of international talks on pollution as the oil derivative has filled refuse sites and littered oceans.
The company first announced that it’s halting plastic waste transport during the One Ocean Summit hosted by France in February.
Environmental protection group Center for Biological Diversity says billions of kilograms of plastic waste make up about 40% of the world’s ocean surfaces. At the current rate, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050, CBD said.
In Copenhagen, Swedish shipping giant AP Moeller-Maersk said it had joined Climate Group SteelZero, a global initiative that brings together leading organizations to accelerate the transition to a net zero steel industry.
Maersk said it was joining the group in partnership with Responsible Steel, the steel industry’s first global, multi-stakeholder standard and certification initiative.
Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, Maersk chief executive of Fleet & Strategic Brands, said steel is used in its ships, containers, terminals, and warehouses and, therefore, is a pivotal part of the company’s decarbonization efforts.
“The steel industry is one of the largest emitters of CO2, contributing around 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is imperative to find a low-carbon process for primary steelmaking to adhere to the 1.5°C pathway in this hard-to-abate industry,” Thygesen said.
“Joining SteelZero underscores our commitment to demanding net zero steel and boosting a rapid scale-up. We will collaborate with our customers, suppliers and across the entire steel value chain,” she added.
Global ship recycling volumes are projected to nearly double by 2028 and quadruple by 2033. Recycled steel will be progressively recognized as a viable raw material for steel consumers with net zero-emission targets, Maersk said.
